Letters

Letter writer Gary O’Connell (right) with Don Schrader

Scavenger Notes

Dear Alibi,

We did the Scavenger Hunt and had lots of fun. I was out of town for the last one.

I had a disadvantage. I have a very bad knee, and even very short walks hurt and cause it to swell. So my going to the waterfall, no way; standing on the fun jump, OK, but no way could I jump; and a walk to the burnt parts of the Bosque, I had to settle for a long-distance pic. Am I moaning and groaning? No. But I can still walk, others can't. I'm just suggesting that maybe the next one be made a little more handicap-friendly. Not asking you to bend over, but maybe bend a little.

On a side note, I have never seen a taco cart (born and raised here); I've seen wagons that had tacos, but a wagon (with motor, etc. ) is not a cart.

And is McCain running? I never saw a single sign. Saw 100-plus for Obama, none for Nader, none for McCain. I asked others, no one saw any. Also, to The Don, you were very cool and friendly, thank you. I feel that a photo you agreed to should be worth more than a "drive by" photo.

Very, very fun hunt! Thank you!

Gary O'ConnellAlbuquerque

Destination: Zero

Dear Alibi,

[Re: Ortiz y Pino, “Hearts and Minds,” July 24-30] While I agree with Jerry Ortiz Y Pino, I would like to go one step further. We cannot win this war because this war is based on a lie. If we were tyrants, like Saddam Hussein, who went to war for personal gain, caring not for those we killed or for the damage we did to a nation, then we could win this war. But we are not tyrants; we are decent people who were lied into this war. There is no winning this wrong war.

As for the "success" of the surge, it is like driving on the wrong road in the wrong direction and then saying, "We're making great time." As long as we stay on this wrong road, we will not reach our destination.

Lenny KrosinskyAlbuquerque

Bootlegging 101

Dear Alibi,

[Re: Newscity, “Kat Trouble,” July 31-Aug. 6] I understand why the RIAA puts so much effort into stomping out bootlegged music and movies. It's because there's big money involved. After two years of not going to the movies, I recenly attended a $7 matinee and $6 popcorn of the latest X-Files release. It was OK. I haven't bought music for more than 15 years, and I generally won't buy movies on DVD either. I watched Iron Man, Batman, Wanted and others on bootlegged media via the Internet. The video quality was poor, but it revealed how much movies rely on graphics. Actors get millions for each movie even though the acting isn't that good. And where does the rest of it go? Other rich people. I won't support their lavish lifestyles. I wanted a DVD of a movie released in 1976. It cost $27. Price The Beatles or Pink Floyd music. It's ridiculously expensive, especially for songs released in the ’70s. So I'll continue to bootleg music and movies, because I know the price won't ever be reasonable otherwise.

S.F.Albuquerque

My Favorite Review of My Own Work Ever

Dear Alibi,

[Re: Film Review, “The Lives of Angels,” July 31-Aug. 6] Stephen Jules Rubin here, producer, director, writer and actor of/in The Lives of Angels. No sarcasm meant—I'd like to thank you for your scathing review of the film we spent years working on, using the work of more than 40 talented and passionate New Mexicans with various film experience. This review, most likely written by someone with little knowledge of film or how to write a film review, makes me amazingly happy. You see, a filmmaker wants a reaction from his/her film. The fact that many people love the film and we are proud of our efforts, in the words of my mentors over the years, validates us. Of course, not everybody is going to like every film, and you do throw in some kind comments about a few aspects of our work.

This is the first bad review I have ever gotten, and I am quite grateful and proud.

Overall, I am flattered by your hatred of our film and plan to post this review on my wall with my other great rejection letters. As Michael Stipe says, for each person who likes me, there is at least one who hates me. This is the first bad review I have ever gotten, and I am quite grateful and proud.

Thanks,

Stephen Jules RubinJulesworks, LLCcomment on alibi.com

Letters should be sent with the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number via e-mail to letters@alibi.com. They can also be faxed to (505) 256-9651. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium; we regret that owing to the volume of correspondence we cannot reply to every letter.